Over the years, Peter attended hundreds of parties and events. This on-going section will tell the stories behind some of his adventures…
Please scroll down for the latest additions.
The Isle of Wight Festival – August 1970
Peter and friend enjoying the music (see page 195 of ‘Peter Wyngarde: A Life Amongst Strangers‘.
Peter at the Department S launch party, 1969
Peter with actress, Madeline Smith, at an event at the Grosvenor Hotel in London, 1973
Peter in London with his Norwegian girlfriend – model, Elisabeth Skjortekjole
In the gardens behind Peter’s home in Earl’s Terrace, London
And a candid photo of Peter and Elisabeth in Berlin, 1971
A SURPRISE ENCORE WITH A CUDDLE FROM THE KING
The London Evening News – Thursday, 10 October, 1973
Dawn was almost breaking before Sally Ann Howes and Peter Wyngarde got to their beds today after their triumphant West End first night in The King and I. It had been an emotional occasion at the Adelphi Theatre, with audience applause thundering out and curtain call after curtain call.
One of the most emotional moments of all – which was totally unexpected by the stars – came when the curtain rose one more time to find the two of them hugging each other with delight. Peter explained:
Backstage after all the congratulations from people like Cicely Courtneidge, who looks upon herself as a second mother to Sally Ann Howes, the stars exchanged presents.
He, using a line from the script, gave her a large model elephant. “I think it’s brought us both good luck”, he told her.
She, remembering that the King wears glasses in the show, gave his a pair of Georgian spectacles. Said TV’s Jason King: “When I get the lenses taken out , I will wear them in future performances”.
Both of them went on to a series of parties to mark the opening. There were public ones and private celebrations. Peter got to two of them but missed a third. “With a matinee due today,” he said, “I felt I had to sleep some time”.
It was his first West End musical, and he was at the theatre early to mentally adjust himself from London to Siam – leaving one world for another.
“It was wonderful hearing the adulation for the music,” he said. “I was so nervous that I must’ve gargled a hundred times before going on stage.
“But it was exhilaration rather than fear. My last words to Sally were, “look into my eyes while we’re out there.”
This photograph, which was taken on November 6th, 1975, shows Peter with 24-year-old WRAF officer, Carolyn Hardwick. Carolyn, had been a fan of the stage show, ‘The King and I’, and had seen it performed on numerous occasions throughout the UK.However, she also became a huge fan of Peter Wyngarde after travelling hundreds of miles to see him in the title role on 16 separate occasions!
Opening night of’Oh, Calcutta!” at The Roundhouse, Camden, London – Monday, 27th July 1970
Taken in a park in a park off the Edgeware Road in London, Peter celebrates the revival of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s ‘The King and I’ on June 8th, 1973. Behind him is his Co-Star, Sally Anne Howes, and a selected number of his 108 Royal Children.The cast and orchestra of 60 played in Leeds, Southsea, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Hull and Manchester before opening in London in October 1973.
The London Evening Standard – Thursday, 21st September, 1972
Actor Peter Wyngarde, star of the television series Jason King, and singer Dana Gillespie were among guests who fled a fire early today at a Piccadilly nightclub.
Firemen, some wearing breathing apparatus, rescued five people trapped by the flames. The rescue was hampered because firemen were unable to get their appliances into Mason’s Yard, off Jermyn Street, to tackle the blaze at the three-story Music Workshop Club. But after dragging an escape ladder across the yard, they rescued two men from the roof and helped three others from the top floor flat down an internal staircase.
Lee Jackson, a 25-year-old flautist with Jackson heights, was playing at the club when the alarm was raised. He said: “We had just finished our set when the manager yelled fire, but he’s known as a practical joker, so we ignored him.”
Peter Wyngarde, who was unhurt in the blaze said: “I smelt smoke, so raised the alarm and left.”
In 1973, whilst Peter was on a promotional tour of Germany and Austria, he took a couple of days off to go skiing in Switzerland.
Whilst there, he met a group of underprivileged British kids and their teacher, who’d been taking on by a charity. As a kindly gesture, he paid for the group to go up the mountain by cable car.
Julia Young, who was then part of the class told the Hellfire Club recently: “I met Peter when I was on a charity skiing trip in Switzerland. He wanted to do something for our group and tried to arrange skiing lessons but his PR people wanted to big up the charity angle and he refused. Instead he arranging sleighs to take us to his hotel, and he had a tea party for us in the lobby. Such a wonderful, kind and generous man. He gave me hope that celebrities can be nice people as well”.
Getting into the spirit of the forthcoming presentation of ‘The King and I’ at the Adelphi Theatre, London.
Peter and his Co-star, Sally Anne Howes took a Chinese junk called the Hoi Lung (‘Sea Dragon’) up the Thames to Tower Bridge on Thursday, 13th September, 1973. Reporters and photographers were invited to join the two stars from their press launch for the two-hour trip down the river.
For the shoot, both Peter and Sally
Anne wore full theatrical costumes. His comprised of a knee-length velvet Kimono with a cloak trimmed with gold braid, a 900-year old Moroccan bracelet and clogs.
Each of the stars of the film went to a premier in different cities around the world. Peter was chosen to attend the New York showing.
This photograph of Peter and his beau, Suzanna Leigh, was taken at the Plaza Theatre, Lower Regent Street, London, on February 2nd, 1972, where Roman Polanski’s ‘Macbeth’ was being held in aid of The Association For Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
The production, which starred Jon Finch in the title role; Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth, and Martin Shaw as Banquo, was performed in the presence of Princess Anne.
See the entire ensemble that Peter was wearing at the premier HERE
MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY FOR CHARLIE CHAPLAIN
There was a standing ovation for Charlie Chaplain at the charity premier of ‘Modern Times’ ay the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, 19th February, 1972.
Princess Alexandra and her husband, Angus Ogilvy, where there to enjoy the film, with our very own Peter Wyngarde – a lifelong Chaplain fan.
The critics appeared to enjoy it too. They were there along with Peter, Joseph Cotton, Jenny Agutter and Duncan Sandys when they met the 82-year old silent movie legend afterwards at the pub named after him at the Elephant and Castle in London.
Later that evening, there was a gala dinner party at the Savoy at which the stars were entertained by the Princess and her husband.
Peter commented to waiting pressmen that he thought the power cuts which had plagued Britain that particular year were made all the more ironic after attending the premier: “Many a true word is spoken in jest,” he quipped.
Peter meets Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent after the Royal Charity Premier of ‘Flash Gordon’ at the ABC Cinema in Shaftsbury Avenue, London – 10th December, 1980.
The charities that benefited from the screening were The Variety Club of Great Britain, The Army Benevolent Fund, The International Social Services of Great Britain and The Charities Aid Foundation.
Below: An original ticket to the event.
Here Peter is seen with the actress, Ann Lynn, on 4th July, 1969, at a theatre gala in London. On seeing this photo’ recently, Peter couldn’t believe he could ever wear such a shirt, let alone allow anyone to photograph him in it!!!
Peter enjoying a drink and a chat with theatrical empresario (Sir) Peter Hall and the latter’s second wife, Jacqueline Taylor.
STOP PRESS!
Peter with Austrian actress, Antonia Reininghaus, at the premier of ‘Alten Simpl’ (Montag/Dienstag, 31 October 1977).
Peter pictured with Verity Lambert at the 1961 World premiere of ‘Too Late Blues’, which starred Bobby Darin and Stella Stevens.
Peter with lady friend, Margit Rieti
Peter with fellow actor, Stanley Baker, at the Annual Variety Club dinner – November, 1973
The Duke of Gloucester chats with Peter and Delia Sainsbury backstage at the Theatre Royal, Bristol, on Tuesday, 10th September, 1974, after a performance of ‘Present Laughter’. With them is Charles Clarke, the theatre’s owner.
The Theatre Royal had chosen
‘Present Laughter’ to re-open their splendid Georgian theatre of September 9th, following a summer refurbishment.
The Duke, who was the guest of honour at the ‘black-tie’ occasion, joined invited guests of the management and company at a champagne party on stage after the show.
There were many civic dignitaries from Bath, Bristol and elsewhere to lend importance to the occasion, which brought hopeful signals for a new and profitable lease of life for the grand old theatre.
N.B. Apologies for the quality of the photo’, as it has come from a newspaper and hasn’t copied well. However, I thought you’d rather see it as is as opposed to not at all.
PETER WYNGARDE: The Official Website 
2 thoughts on “OUT ON THE TOWN WITH PETER”